Guwahati: Aasu will hold statewide candlelight vigils on Sunday in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk.The vigils will be organised by the students’ body’s district units at their respective headquarters across Assam on July 19.In a joint statement, Aasu president Utpal Sharma and general secretary Samiran Phukan said that, regardless of differences in opinion, ideology or political beliefs, everyone must acknowledge that the issue for which Sonam Wangchuk is on a hunger strike is directly linked to the future of crores of students in the country.They said the NEET question paper leak, the growing influence of the “question paper mafia” and repeated irregularities in competitive examinations had shaken students’ faith in the education system. Several students across the country died by suicide due to such incidents, they said.“In such a situation, comprehensive reforms in the education system and greater accountability of the authorities concerned have become necessary. Therefore, Aasu expresses its solidarity with Wangchuk’s peaceful and democratic movement,” the statement said.Aasu urged the govt to resolve the issue through dialogue rather than treat it as a matter of prestige or ego.“The issue concerns the future of the country’s students. There should be no objection to holding discussions on such a matter. Instead of doing so, forcibly removing Wangchuk from the site of his hunger strike is condemnable and highly unfortunate,” the statement added.
